JDRF, Lilly partner to make life better for people with type 1 diabetes

May 6 2015

JDRF, the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research, and Eli Lilly and Company, a global leader in diabetes care announced a two-year partnership that will provide $1.8 Million in support of JDRF's mission to improving the lives of people with T1D. This agreement provides a variety of programs and resources that can help people overcome the daily challenges of managing diabetes. Lilly Diabetes has been a generous JDRF corporate partner since 1997 when they began supporting their local Indiana State Chapter. They have been a national sponsor of JDRF for the past four years.

"JDRF is extremely grateful to Lilly Diabetes for making life better for people living with diabetes," said Margo K. Lucero, Senior Vice President, Corporate and International Development. "Lilly has been a valued partner of JDRF and through its generous support and collaboration, we are moving closer to our goal of creating a world without type 1 diabetes."

"The programs and resources JDRF offers families -- starting with the moment of diagnosis -- are so important," said Jackie Giovanoni, Lilly Diabetes global director of advocacy and professional relations. "The responsibility of diabetes care can be overwhelming and JDRF is there to help. We are proud to support the organization in its efforts to reach even more families in the coming years."

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which a person's pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone people need to get energy from food. T1D strikes both children and adults and has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. There is currently nothing you can do to prevent it. People with T1D must regularly monitor their blood sugar level, inject or continually infuse insulin through a pump, and carefully balance their insulin doses with eating and daily activities throughout the day and night. However, insulin is not a cure for diabetes, and even with intensive disease management, a significant portion of the day is still spent with either high or low blood sugar levels, placing people with T1D at risk for devastating complications such as heart attack, stroke, blindness, and amputation.

Through its charitable contribution, Lilly has been instrumental in supporting key JDRF initiatives such as:

• Bag of Hope – Factual information, tools and resources in a "bag" for children newly-diagnosed with type 1 diabetes
• TypeOneNation Summits – A networking and educational event for people living with type 1 diabetes, their families and friends
• Teen and School Advisory Toolkits – Guides to help parents, teens and educators of individuals with type I diabetes make the journey less burdensome
• One Walk - A vehicle used to bring communities together to raise awareness and money for JDRF and type 1 diabetes research
• Signature Events –Galas and other activities that raise money for JDRF and type 1 diabetes research
• Children's Congress – A biannual event that brings more than 150 children (ages 4-17) living with type 1 diabetes and their families to Washington, D.C. to meet with Members of Congress and share their personal stories

SOURCE JDRF